Press Release - August 2, 2005

Date:
August 2, 2005

Contact:
Robert D. Korb, Jr., CFI, CFPS - Deputy Fire Marshal
Phone: (410) 632-5666 Ext. 4; Email: rkorb@wcfmo.org

MERCURY SPILL AT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

"The Worcester County Special Hazards Response Team and the Worcester County Department of Emergency Services responded to a Mercury spill at the Worcester County Health Department yesterday afternoon.

The County Health Department located at 6040 Bay Street in Snow Hill, Maryland notified Emergency Services of the spill at approximately 1:30 PM. An immediate response from four of the Counties on-duty hazmat technicians investigated and reported a shipping carton containing four refurbished Mercury Sphygmomanometers had possibly leaked spilling the hazardous metal onto the floor in the administrative offices area of the Health Department. Mercury Sphygmomanometers are used for checking blood pressure and had been recently returned to the Health Department from the product manufacturer for routine recalibration.

The hazmat technicians recognized the hazard and recommended the Health Department quarantine the area where the spill occurred until specialized cleanup operations could take place. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was contacted and made an immediate response from their Baltimore office with specialized Mercury cleanup materials. At approximately 4:15 pm entry was made by MDE and County hazmat technicians to cleanup the spill. Through further investigation, it was not believed the Sphygmomanometers returned to the County were leaking, but rather the shipping container they were transported in which may have trapped Mercury inside the box accidentally.

During the three hour cleanup process, it was necessary to dispose of the four recalibrated Mercury Sphygmomanometers that came in contact with the Mercury and approximately one yard of carpeting that the Mercury had spilled on. Additionally the office personnel who had opened the package was requested to dispose of their shoes which may have accidentally came in contact with the Mercury. Additionally, the County voluntarily chose to dispose of one additional Mercury Sphygmomanometer they were still using at that time for proper disposal by MDE.

While the quantity of the spill was relatively small, the Worcester County Special Hazards Response Team would like to remind everyone of the hazards the element Mercury poses in any capacity. Click Here for more information from MDE on the element Mercury.

The Worcester County Health Department in Snow Hill is a registered Mercury drop off point for the public who may still be using Mercury for instruments such as thermometers and would like to dispose of them properly. You can contact the Health Department at 410-632-1100 for disposal procedures.

The situation was rendered safe and all involved parties cleared the scene at at approximately 8:00 PM.

For further information, the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office can be reached by calling 410-632-5666 or on the web at www.wcfmo.org."

Scene Photos
(Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Korb, Jr.)